Gillon McLachlan is the current CEO of Tabcorp and former CEO of the Australian Football League (AFL) and has been since April 2014.

Gillon was raised in Mount Pleasant, South Australia, and is the eldest of four brothers. He completed high school at St Peter’s College in Adelaide, before obtaining a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Adelaide in 1995 and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Melbourne the following year. Afterwards, Gillon completed the famed Senior Executive Program at Stanford University. After graduating from university, Gillon worked as a management consultant for Accenture.

Gillon joined the AFL in May 2000 as a strategic planner and was appointed General Manager Commercial Operations in November 2003 before taking on the additional areas of broadcasting and major projects in 2006. He was promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer in 2008 with responsibility for AFL broadcasting and digital media, fixturing, venue agreements and stadia infrastructure. Gill was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer in December 2012 and Chief Executive Officer (replacing Andrew Demetriou) on April 30, 2014.

In his role as CEO of the AFL, Gillon played a key role in the last AFL Media Rights Deal which was the largest in Australian sporting history, the establishment of AFL Media and the establishment of the two expansion clubs: Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney.

In 2024, Gillon accepted the role as General Manager and Chief Executive Office of Tabcorp. His primarly role will be to accelerate growth at Tabcorp.

At corporate events, Gillon McLachlan speaker and leader covers a wide range of topics that reflect his leadership experience, strategic thinking, and insights into high-performance organisations. His presentations are tailored to business audiences and often draw on his time overseeing one of Australia’s most complex and high-profile sporting organisations. Key themes he commonly addresses include:

1. Leadership Under Pressure
   Gillon discusses how to lead effectively through crises, such as navigating the AFL through the COVID-19 pandemic. He shares lessons on decision-making, communication, and managing stakeholder interests under intense scrutiny.

2. Culture and Teamwork
   Drawing from sport, he explores what drives strong organisational culture and how it translates into sustainable success. He shares behind-the-scenes insights into the values and disciplines that underpin elite teams—and how these principles apply in business.

3. Innovation and Change Management
   Gillon speaks about embracing change and adapting to new business environments, particularly how the AFL evolved its product, media rights, and engagement strategies in a digital era.

4. Business of Sport
   He delves into the commercial side of sport, covering topics like media rights negotiations, corporate sponsorship, brand building, and fan engagement—providing valuable takeaways for any enterprise.

5. Strategy and Vision
   Known for his strategic foresight, Gillon discusses long-term planning, expansion (e.g., AFLW and new clubs), and balancing tradition with innovation, offering lessons on organisational growth and relevance.

6. Diversity and Social Impact
   A champion of inclusion in sport, he speaks about leading cultural change, supporting Indigenous and multicultural participation, and the successful introduction of the AFLW.

7. Personal Insights and Anecdotes
   Gillon often shares personal reflections from his career, including high-stakes moments, leadership challenges, and lighter behind-the-scenes stories that offer both insight and entertainment.

Gillon is widely regarded as an articulate, composed, and engaging speaker who blends humour with sharp business and leadership lessons, making him highly sought after for conferences, boardroom briefings, and leadership summits.